Jason Gregoire

Isles Select LW Jason Gregoire 76th Overall

July 23, 2007:  LW Jason Gregoire Born: Feb 24, 1989, Winnipeg, Man. 2006-07: Lincoln (USHL) Shoots: Left ISS:  147th overall Islanders Minnesota Scout Jim Hillman: Jason has deceiving speed and is good around the net. He takes advantage of his opportunities because of his quick hands. I got a chance to see him play with Lincoln of the USHL and he was effective at winning the one-on-one battles at both ends of the ice. I didn't expect him to be available this late in the draft. (from nyi.com)

CSB: Ranking 145th Final

Islanders Director of Pro Scouting & USHL Scout Ken Morrow: In two of the games I saw Jason, he had hat tricks, so he has some goal scoring ability. He was a very smart player and good around the net. What I liked best about Jason was that he came on at the end of the season, and consistently got better as the season progressed. Scouting the amateurs is a whole different ballgame than watching the pros. These are guys, who we might not see play for the Islanders for another five or six years, but this kid stuck out in my mind. (from nyi.com)

ISS:

Draft Notes: Jason Gregoire - This smooth skating LW showed he is a good skater and has some good puck skills. Has a nice touch around the net.

Notes: Scored 4 goals in 4 playoff games with Lincoln in 2007.

- Teammate Colby Cohen of the Lincoln Stars when asked if he knows anyone he may be playing against one day in the NHL: “Jason Gregoire for sure — he’s the total package, and he’ll probably get drafted.

Islanders make 'Pegger's day in the third round
by Scott Unger, Winnipeg Sun, June 24, 2007

Heading into the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Winnipeg's Jason Gregoire was ranked deep on NHL Central Scouting's North American skaters list, 145th to be exact.

But, as the second round began yesterday morning, Gregoire saw players he felt he's on par with getting selected and figured it was just a matter of time before his name would be called. In the third round, the New York Islanders couldn't let him be available any longer.

"I was looking at some of the names that were going and kind of comparing myself to them," he said yesterday from his home here in the city. "I figured I could bring as much to the table as those guys and I guess the Islanders felt the same way.

"I wasn't expecting to go that high. I didn't have too many expectations at all. I'm just thrilled right now."

Last season with the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League, which would fall somewhere between Major Junior and Junior A in Canada, the Winnipeg South Blue scored 16 goals and 20 assists for 36 points in 32 games. He missed almost the entire first half of the season with a reoccurring ankle injury. It was something that had to be cleared with the Isles before they would take him.

"They had to make sure my ankle was OK," he explained. "I had to send them my MRI reports. That got cleared and everything is good."

Now that he has gone to a NHL team, Gregoire says it doesn't matter which round he went in or that he might have gone higher if he had played a full season.

"I think about that," he admitted, "but in retrospect, I play the whole year and maybe hit a huge slump and the scouts don't like what they see.

"I'm thrilled to death about how this season turned out. ... I wouldn't change anything right now."

Islanders director of pro scouting Ken Morrow described on the Islanders website what exactly stood out about Gregoire.

"In two of the games I saw Jason, he had hat tricks, so he has some goal-scoring ability," Morrow said. "He was a very smart player and good around the net. What I liked best about Jason was that he came on at the end of the season, and consistently got better as the season progressed."

Gregoire was unaware that the Isles were even scouting him during the season.

"I'm not sure if they were at any games," he said.

"I did very well offensively and I think that might be one of the biggest things they were looking for out of me."

Other Manitobans to go in Rounds 2-7 yesterday include Snowflake's Justin Falk, who is now property of the Minnesota Wild, as did Calgary Hitmen product and Brandonite Carson McMillian in the seventh round. Also in the final round, Winnipeg's Frazer McLaren was chosen by the San Jose Sharks and Ryan Molle went to the New Jersey Devils.

Defenceman Keith Aulie of Regina was the lone Brandon Wheat King selected in the draft. He went to the fourth round to the Calgary Flames.

Playing the waiting game
'Tobans likely to go in middle rounds at '07 draft
by Scott Unger, Winnipeg Sun, June 21, 2007

The possible hidden gem among the Manitobans that could be selected this weekend is Winnipeg product Jason Gregoire. After playing for the Manitoba Junior Hockey League's Winnipeg South Blues as a 16 year old in 2005-06, he left for the Lincoln Stars of the Tier 1 United States Hockey League last season. Despite missing a good portion of the season with an ankle injury, he scored 16 goals and added 20 assists in 32 games in Lincoln.

"I've talked to three teams," Gregoire said yesterday. "Obviously they aren't going to tell me if they are going to draft me or not, but I am hearing good things."

Those three teams include the New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders and Montreal Canadiens.

"I think I offer teams as much as any other guy," he said.

Gregoire is heading back to Lincoln next season before joining the University of North Dakota for the 2008-09 season. He is widely viewed as one of the best college prospects in the 2008 class.

"I hope to be a top forward there (Lincoln) next season and then see where it takes me," he assessed, adding he's looking forward to a full season in a familiar place.

"I might be one healthy year away from hitting my stride."

Gregoire is ranked 145th among North American skaters, which puts him at the tail end of the draft. But, the point pace he set last season would have put him in the top 10 in scoring in the USHL, had he been healthy for the entire season. That might be enough for a team to go off the board and snag him earlier.

islesinfo.com comment: Interesting that this article was published on June 21st and it mentions the Islanders interest in Gregoire.

2006-07 Highlights:

Regular Season:
* Named third star with 3 assists in 8-1 win vs. Omaha Lancers October 6, 2006.
* Named second star with a goal (PP) and 2 assists in 6-4 win vs. Tri-City Storm  October 28, 2007.
* Named first star with 2 goals in 6-2 win at Tri-City Storm January 23, 2007.
* Named second star with a goal (PP) in 5-2 win vs. Ohio Junior Blue Jackets January 28, 2007.
* Named second star with a goal (SH) and an assist in 6-3 win vs. Tri-City Storm February 9, 2007.
* Named third star with a goal and an assist in 6-4 win vs. Green Bay Gamblers February 17, 2007.
* Named first star with 2 goals (1 SH) in 7-4 win vs. Des Moines Buccaneers February 23, 2007.
* Named second star with a goal and an assist in 6-4 win at Des Moines Buccaneers March 7, 2007.
* Named second star with a goal (GW) and an assist in 6-5 win vs. Des Moines Buccaneers April 7, 2007.

Playoffs:
* Named first star with 3 goals in 8-7 loss vs. Sioux Falls Stampede April 24, 2007. (Gm 4)

It took Jason Gregoire just one year to go from a low United States Hockey League draft pick to a projected mid-round NHL selection.

He went from obscurity to prominence in the eyes of recruiters. He went from the frustration of injury to the satisfaction of a breakout season in the USHL.

The latest change: Gregoire now has decided he will attend UND in the fall of 2008 instead of Denver.

“When I had my surgeries, it was a real emotional time in my life,” said Gregoire, who suffered ankle injuries last fall. “And coming from a big city like Lincoln, I liked the bright lights of Denver. But as I started playing again, I didn't see my family as much and I realized what I wanted in my heart. The grass isn't always greener.”

Gregoire said the first step was to tell Denver. “Luckily,” he said, UND was still interested.

That's not a huge surprise, judging by his first season with Lincoln.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound left winger had 36 points in 32 games. Gregoire had the best plus-minus rating in the entire league at plus-28.

“I'm not great at anything,” Gregoire said. “I'm good at a lot of little things. I'm more of an all-around player.”

At the end of the 2005-06 season, Gregoire exploded in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and grabbed the attention of Bemidji State and St. Cloud State. He continued to open eyes when he went to the Lincoln Stars, where he earned more scholarship offers and heavy praise from his coach, former Sioux forward Steve Johnson.

“Our guys don't have to watch hockey on television to see how to play the game,” Johnson told the Lincoln Journal-Star three months ago. “They can watch Jason Gregoire.”

Gregoire is the second recruit UND has landed in a week. Hopkins (Minn.) High forward Mike Fink gave a verbal commitment last week for 2009.

Jason Gregoire decides on North Dakota
grandforksherald.com, May 22, 2007

Grand Forks, N.D. (AP) Left winger Jason Gregoire has decided to attend the University of North Dakota next year.

Gregoire is a standout in the United States Hockey League and had given a verbal commitment to Denver a few months ago. He said that after ankle injuries last fall, he decided he wants to be closer to his Winnipeg home.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Gregoire tallied 36 points in 32 games with the Lincoln Stars.

Gregoire quietly becoming one of the Stars’ best
by Brent C. Wagner, Lincoln Journal Star, Feb. 22, 2007

To understand the significance of what you are about to read, you should first know this.

Lincoln Stars coach Steve Johnson, well, let’s just say he doesn't throw around individual praise of players with the same regularity as they give away T-shirts at the Ice Box.

Not to say he's not fond of his guys. Johnson's just a big team guy — no penalty for that. That's why the compliment Johnson gave Stars forward Jason Gregoire after a recent victory was all the more impressive.

“Our guys don't have to watch hockey on television to see how to play the game," Johnson said, “they can watch Jason Gregoire.”

Whoa. Heavy stuff, but it doesn't take an NHL scout to see that Gregoire is becoming one of the most complete players in the United States Hockey League.

He has missed most of the season because of two ankle surgeries, but Gregoire has nine goals and 10 assists in just 13 games. Most impressive, Gregoire has not had a negative plus/minus statistic in any game, including the 10-1 loss at Sioux City.

Much of what makes Gregoire so good doesn't always show up on a stat sheet, either. Things like protecting the puck, forcing turnovers, and blocking shots. In short, the dirty work it takes to be successful.

“Those little things are my game,” Gregoire said. "I'm not great at anything, but I'm good at a lot of little things, especially on defense. If you're not a total hockey person it might go unnoticed, but that's most of my game.”

Gregoire was somewhat unnoticed last season, despite earning rookie of the league honors in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League — comparable to a Tier II division in the United States. He had 12 goals and 11 assists in 14 playoff games, leading his team to the league championship.

But Johnson got a tip from a friend that he couldn't go wrong with snagging Gregoire, and drafted him without having seen him play. The Stars got a steal when they took Gregoire in the 13th of 19 rounds in the 2006 Entry Draft.

“It was the coolest thing ever when I got drafted,” Gregoire said. “I was telling all my buddies I might be going to Lincoln, Nebraska — this place I've never heard of —  and I started hearing about the Cornhuskers.

“And while this might be a football area, they sure love their hockey down here.”

Johnson says it's probably not just coincidence that Lincoln is 10-3 with Gregoire in the lineup, and the coach had plenty more to gush about Gregoire. Among Johnson's praise:

n “Jason's not the most skilled guy in the world, but he just knows how to play the game in all three zones. When he gets quicker and stronger, he's going to be a pretty dynamic player.”

n "He plays with a lot of courage, and you can't play this game scared. The other night he scored a goal by the puck going off his head into the net. We got some guys who won't go to the net, and really hold themselves back. Part of being a goal scorer is being in the right place at the right time. The right spot is usually at the net."

n “Guys who play with him are fortunate. He works hard, and does things that force two defenders to take him.”

Gregoire, 17, had one goal and four assists in the opening weekend, and parlayed his early success into scholarships offers from the who's who of college hockey. He eventually settled on seven-time NCAA champion Denver, but doesn't know yet if he'll enroll there next season, or return to Lincoln.

As you may expect for someone who grew up across the street from a rink in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Gregoire loves the game. That love likely set him back, though, as he couldn't stand being off the ice, and tried to return from October ankle surgery too quickly. Gregoire needed a second surgery in December.

His passion also shows in his play. In the determination that Gregoire showed in scoring a breakaway goal against Tri-City with three skaters chasing him, and the shot he blocked in the last 30 seconds to preserve a win against Green Bay.

He’s driven, too, Johnson said.

“(Tuesday) we had a hard practice, and he's still out there now working on stuff — he just understands what it means to be a good player on and off the ice,” Johnson said. "He's very classy off the ice — a guy you look at the whole picture with, and how he carries himself. Everything from his appearance to his grades

“He's that guy who just gets it.”